All car mags Reviews 2009 Maxima

[NYPD-Arnold]

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t_drive_review

[Zack342]

How is the top speed drag limited at 132? It has 290hp.

[hectorc]

The review sounds like what's expected here. Better suspension, smaller than the current trend, but no manual...no care.

[lightonthehill]

Zero to 60 in 5.8 seconds. Finally licked the torque steer. Lowered the high roof and made the rear less bulbous. Wider and shorter stance gives super slalom time. Changed the fat-looking body to an athletic Coke-bottle shape. Very aggressive-looking front. So much to love.

Too bad there are so many here who won't consider anything but a manual. Especially when less than 5% of Maxima buyers opted for the manual when it was available. That is still the same story with the Altima. Nissan builds cars with manuals and dealers can't sell them. So Nissan drops the manual and all we get is complaints EVERY DAY about no manual.

Whatever.

[maximadave]

Originally Posted by hectorc

no manual...no care.

..........

[AllBlackMax]

I wish they woulda spoke more of the sport mode on the CVT. Drag limited top speed? nah...Sounds like the CVT gave up. I still like the car though.

*edit*

The 2008 Acura TL Type-S is better in every way; quicker(0-60), faster(1/4 mile); lighter(almost 100lbs);

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 107.9 in
Length: 189.8 in
Width: 72.2 in
Height: 56.7 in
Curb weight: 3515 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 5.5 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 13.9 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 25.8 sec
Street start, 5–60 mph: 5.8 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.1 sec @ 101 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 150 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 163 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.93 g

[lightonthehill]

AllBlackMax - My son would give you his TL Type 'S', but his (twice replaced) tranny would fail before he could get the car to your house.

The tranny problems were actually not his biggest gripe; he had tranny problems from day one with his TL, and felt he was not treated well by Honda Corp. That greatly disappointed him. He will never buy another Honda/Acura.

Based on your specs, the TL is a statistical success, testing-wise. The styling must be rather conservative, as I have somehow not noticed them on the road. Oh, wait; I do remember seeing one. The first thing I noticed was the grille, and I thought it might have been a Ford with all that shiny chrome.

Like you, I'm not sure why they dropped the top speed. Maybe they have 'geared' (can you do that with a CVT? I guess we are talking about the 'final drive ratio') the '09 for better acelleration, hence the higher RPMS resulted in a slight lowering of top speed. Not that there is anywhere around Atlanta I could do 132 anyway. 20 MPH is more common here, and 20 MPH is certainly not 'manual tranny friendly', either.

[AllBlackMax]

That's odd cause I have a buddy that just bought a late model CL type S and his tranny went months after he bought it. He took it to a Acura dealership and they replaced the transmission no questions asked; he didn't spend a penny.

I love the looks of the new Max over the TL-S Type S; I've just a little disappointed in the "numbers".

But then again this is only a first review of the car; time will tell.

Originally Posted by lightonthehill

AllBlackMax - My son would give you his TL Type 'S', but his (twice replaced) tranny would fail before he could get the car to your house.

The tranny problems were actually not his biggest gripe; he had tranny problems from day one with his TL, and felt he was not treated well by Honda Corp. That greatly disappointed him. He will never buy another Honda/Acura.

Based on your specs, the TL is a statistical success, testing-wise. The styling must be rather conservative, as I have somehow not noticed them on the road. Oh, wait; I do remember seeing one. The first thing I noticed was the grille, and I thought it might have been a Ford with all that shiny chrome.

Like you, I'm not sure why they dropped the top speed. Maybe they have 'geared' (can you do that with a CVT? I guess we are talking about the 'final drive ratio') the '09 for better acelleration, hence the higher RPMS resulted in a slight lowering of top speed. Not that there is anywhere around Atlanta I could do 132 anyway. 20 MPH is more common here, and 20 MPH is certainly not 'manual tranny friendly', either.

[lightonthehill]

AllBlackMax - The test stats on the TL are very impressive. I do not not think the new Max will threaten 5.5 zero to sixty. There is no question that at least one other vehicle will outperform the Maxima in one or more categories. But when it comes to the entire package - affordability, room, fun to drive, reliability, performance, style, etc, it is tough to beat the Maxima.

Having owned nothing but Maximas for 23 1/2 years, having been completely satisfied with every Maxima I have ever owned, living near a Nissan dealer that has treated me very well for many years, and preferring the Maxima's styling to its competitors, I am probably too biased to ever admit any other vehicle might be better.

[eyecon7]

here come the Tranny Swaps...

[VQHP]

1.High price, at 37 Geez
2.No 6spd
3.Top speed at 132 MPH
4.Front wheel drive
5.Too heavy
6.No way [F#%k that]........5.5 Gens and 6 Gens FTW!!!!

[Smooth]

At 37 I would just pay the dif and get a awd g35 and call it good

[95Max]

I have to agree with light. Who cares that the car will only do 132 mph. Where are you going to drive that fast? Not in the NY/NJ area. The traffic just doesn't allow it. Not to mention if the police catch you...no more license, crazy fines...

[jspagna]

I can't wait to check out the new Max in person. I think the 37 grand is just a price they are putting out there for now. Remember the last Max was like 35-37 fully loaded and you can now see them being advertised at 23-25 grand. I think after the initial hype the prices will become more realistic.
And as someone said before,the Maxima has always been a LOT of car for the money and I think it will continue to be so. And as for stepping up to a G35, my sister has one and whenever I drive it I still think it is too tight/small and almost too much HP. I think the new MAx will be just the right blend of size & power. Just MO.

[vladi77]

^^^^ Have to agree with those complaining about the top speed limited. I would really like to know from anyone (honestly speaking) that has a problem with the top speed. Have you ever gone over 130 in your car? 2nd How often do you go over 130 MPH?

Now Getting back to the rest of the review, i must say that the sticker price is quite a shocker. I knew the car would be starting at about 30K but to know that this was not even the sports version, also those pictures dont show an actual driven model so we dont know what options are in the car for $37K, I will not be buying this car if i have to pay $40K for a fully loaded version. I will just go an buy a slightly used G35x and call it a day.

[LA02MAX]

Not sure why you guys are surprised at the price..the current maxima fully loaded is $36,660, and it has a vastly inferior interior, less options, etc.

[vladi77]

I would like to ask, did anyone see on the article a list of what was included in the price. I for one was one of those people that knew that the price of the would be around 37-38K fully loaded. But if this car is 37K and not the sports package, not the larger wheels, no nav. If the 37K price includes all the options then I have no problem with the price because that would be MSRP. So you will always be able to negotiate. But if you are talking 37K then you have to add another 4K in options I will not be buying this car.

[4DRSpeed]

Originally Posted by lightonthehill

Too bad there are so many here who won't consider anything but a manual. Especially when less than 5% of Maxima buyers opted for the manual when it was available. That is still the same story with the Altima. Nissan builds cars with manuals and dealers can't sell them. So Nissan drops the manual and all we get is complaints EVERY DAY about no manual.

Whatever.

That's cause that 5% is right here on this board, the other 95% are the everyday mom's or old folks that just drive from point a to point b and don't really give a hoot about anything else, except for the style, features, fuel economy, and price.

Keep in mind don't buy this car new it won't be worth the 37K wait about two years and get one for 23 slightly used, ****ty Nissan resale.

[vladi77]

4DRSpeed, you make great sense with the waiting for a year or 2 before getting it but I just dont think many people here will wait if they want it. I will be one of those waiting at least 6 months to see what problems people are having. If I dont see any major problems I might get it then if not wait until at least the next years model.

I am looking for my next car to keep for about 6-7 years. Currently I have an 2002 altima SE 3.5 She has treated me great and is in excellent shape only 45K miles. But i am looking for something fresher with more features in the cabin and the looks of it are very attractive. So I will probably be waiting on the sideline for a few months but I will be test driving as soon as possible to see how the ride feels.

But no way in hell will I pay 37K for a non-fully loaded max.

[lightonthehill]

vladi77 - You are I are sort of the same here. I am very excited about the new Maxima, but will wait until my saleslady is dealing from invoice, and until the early glitches are discovered and fixed before plunking down my cash. Maybe late summer (in this recession, prices will HAVE to be discounted fairly quickly in order to sell cars) or early fall?

Those concerned with price need to understand that the range of prices for the 7th gen is only about #1K above the 6th gen. Considering how the price of everything else is going up, and that the '09 is clearly an improved car in many ways over the 6th gen, I feel the pricing is right where it should be. Not that anyone actually pays MSRP anyway.

I would bet a fairly well equipped '09 with sport package might be obtained late this fall for under $34K. Times are tough, and Nissan has to sell cars at whatever price the public will pay. Those talking G35 will find that, once the initial introductory '09 Maxima excitement dies, the actual driveout for the G35 will always be higher than a similarly equipped Maxima, and that is for a vehicle with less interior room, and in my mind, a less exciting style.

[AllBlackMax]

You guys are missing the point with the speed limit issue. It's not like the car runs hard all the way to 132 then all of a sudden wind drag halts it.

Obviously, as the car approaches 132 it will struggle. So you can pretty much assume the car will barely make it to 127 or so which is horrible.

And yes, I've driven 140 in my car and it was still pullin when I shut it down.

Which leads into my next question; how in the heck can my car be more aerodynamic that the new Max?

Like I said, I still like the car though. CAI, full exhaust, AFC tune, and drop should greatly improve things.

[Mike00]

37k? I'll pick up a navi/premium g35x for that kind of money.

The current gen maxima I could load up pretty much full features for 32k.

I had been interested in the new maxima but I think I'll pick up a TL or G35x instead if iti's going to cost me that kind of money.

[lightonthehill]

Mike00 - You didn't read all the posts here (such as mine, just 3 posts back).

Yes, if you insist on driving one of the first '09s, a loaded one might approach $37K. But if you wait until the initial excitement dies down, and reality sets in for the dealers. I'll bet you could stuff a loaded '09 into your Christmas stocking for somewhere under $34K, maybe even $33K. Considering how the price of everything has risen this year, I feel that would be a great deal.

As for the G35, Consumer Reports found the same things I did: The interior felt cramped (the Maxima felt very roomy), the trunk is small (the Maxima's is large), the MPG was average (the G35 only got 19 MPG in overall testing; the roomier Maxima got 21), and the driveout price for a G35 was higher than a comparably equipped Maxima. The AWD version some mentioned here only widens the gap in price.

Infiniti makes excellent vehicles, but the Maxima has usually been a better all-around buy. I don't see that changing.

[Smooth]

Originally Posted by lightonthehill

vladi77 - You are I are sort of the same here. I am very excited about the new Maxima, but will wait until my saleslady is dealing from invoice, and until the early glitches are discovered and fixed before plunking down my cash. Maybe late summer (in this recession, prices will HAVE to be discounted fairly quickly in order to sell cars) or early fall?

Those concerned with price need to understand that the range of prices for the 7th gen is only about #1K above the 6th gen. Considering how the price of everything else is going up, and that the '09 is clearly an improved car in many ways over the 6th gen, I feel the pricing is right where it should be. Not that anyone actually pays MSRP anyway.

I would bet a fairly well equipped '09 with sport package might be obtained late this fall for under $34K. Times are tough, and Nissan has to sell cars at whatever price the public will pay. Those talking G35 will find that, once the initial introductory '09 Maxima excitement dies, the actual driveout for the G35 will always be higher than a similarly equipped Maxima, and that is for a vehicle with less interior room, and in my mind, a less exciting style.

You are right there but, I want awd and a little more prestige with my carI have loved my max but I have owned it since oct 05 and it has 45k on it, time to go....I agree the g35 is a little smaller inside but I am not sure what to get where I can have awd and not drive a subaru.

I would like to have an m45 or lexus bt I am not there yet. I do need the bigger car because even the maxima is borderline with my line of sight on the passenger side. The A pillar is a serious blind spot for me. I drive with the seat all the way back and down but it is still blind for me I have to drive in parking lots ducked down to see out around it.

[Jopa416]

Originally Posted by lightonthehill

Too bad there are so many here who won't consider anything but a manual. Especially when less than 5% of Maxima buyers opted for the manual when it was available. That is still the same story with the Altima. Nissan builds cars with manuals and dealers can't sell them. So Nissan drops the manual and all we get is complaints EVERY DAY about no manual.

Whatever.

A comment on this entry. As a manual driver I understand the car companies quandry with offering manuals when they are hard to sell. Sales is about volume & quick turn around....I get it.

However, I personally would be willing to special order a car with a manual trans & I wish that car makers who don't want to carry inventory's of manuals would offer this option. I would pay more to get exactly what I wanted. This statement applies to Interior/Exterior color themes as well.

It is shamefull, absolutly shamefull, that you can't get a Black or Blue Maxima SE with a Tan Leather interior. (You could get the SL with Blue/Tan)

Best regards all.